Thousands fled for their lives as Boko Haram militants launched a five-hour attack on their town in Nigeria’s Adamawa state.
The attack on the mainly Christian town of Garkida began at 7pm on Friday when hordes of extremists arrived by truck and motorbike. They ransacked houses and set them alight, as well as burning down three churches and several public buildings.
Ask God to be with all those who have lost their homes and churches.
Local Christians said that reports of an impending attack reached the town early on Friday afternoon after extremists were spotted in nearby Chibok. But military personnel stationed near Garkida failed to respond until the attack had begun – and the violence lasted for hours.
A number of Christians were reportedly abducted and others wounded, but precise figures are not yet known. Some reports say a soldier was killed.
- Ask God to comfort and provide for all those affected by the Garkida attack.
- Please ask God to provide new premises for congregations of the Church of the Brethren, the Anglican Church and the Living Faith Church which were destroyed in the raid.
- Continue to pray for wisdom, courage and firm resolve for those in authority charged with ending the bloodshed in Nigeria.
(Source: Morning Star News)
UPDATES
Give thanks that our Iranian sister Mary (Fatemeh) Mohammadi, who was arrested in Tehran in January during protests over the shooting down of a Ukrainian plane, has now been released on bail. After weeks of not knowing her whereabouts, her family recently learnt that Mary, who is a student, had been held at several prisons including Evin Prison, Tehran and more recently in Qarchak women’s prison in Varamin, where she was reportedly beaten and abused. Mary has been charged with ‘disrupting public order’ at ‘an illegal gathering’. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that she was released on bail of 30 million Tomans (US$2000) on February 26 and is due to appear in court on March 2. Pray that Mary will be strengthened physically and spiritually and that she will receive an impartial hearing and unconditional release at her hearing next week. (Source: Middle East Concern, HRANA)
Please also pray for Iranian pastor Victor Bet Tamraz and his wife, Shamiram, whose appeal hearing against long prison sentences was postponed again this week. The hearing combines three cases which also involve three other Christians: Amin Nader Afshari, Hadi Asgar and Kavian Fallah Mohammadi. The appeals have been postponed three times now – and it is now almost three years since the four men were convicted. Pray against any further delays – and for their acquittal. (Source: Middle East Concern)